Scientists identify new floodplain frog species in western Amazon

The short version

• Researchers identified Adenomera varcena, a newly described frog species living in seasonally flooded forests of the western Amazon in Acre, Brazil.[ScienceDaily]
• The species was distinguished from visually similar relatives through genetic testing, morphological comparisons, and analysis of its unique mating call.[ScienceDaily]
• The finding reveals an unexpected flooded-habitat association for a genus typically found in dryland forests, highlighting broader undocumented cryptic diversity.[ScienceDaily]
• Scientists note the frog's full ecological requirements remain unknown, leaving the impacts of changing flood cycles on its reproduction uncertain.[ScienceDaily]

Key facts

• Researchers identified a new frog species, Adenomera varcena, in the seasonally flooded forests of western Acre, Brazil.[ScienceDaily]
• The discovery was published in the journal Ichthyology & Herpetology by a team from Brazilian and Ecuadorian institutions.[ScienceDaily]
• Differentiating the frog required comparing DNA, physical morphology, acoustic recordings of its mating call, and preserved collection specimens.[ScienceDaily]
• The frog lacks a dark spot on its forearm underside and inhabits seasonally flooded várzea forests, unlike related dryland-associated species.[ScienceDaily]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Scientists discover a mysterious new frog hiding in the AmazonScienceDaily - Science